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Maria Andrea Bassols
Once, in 1998, there were 6,000 axolotls per square kilometer in their natural habitat, the district of Xochimilco in the south of Mexico City. They lived a happy life there.
It was an animal that was always smiling, if you saw it sick, healthy or dead it was always laughing, you never knew what it was thinking.
By 2004, there where 1,000 axolotls, and by 2008 there were only 100. But what was happening? Why did they start disappearing? Well, it was because the conditions of the Xochimilco canals were not favorable for them due to water pollution and urban growth.
In consequence, by 2014 there where only 36 of the creatures left. They were from then considered an endangered species.
This was a big problematic until one day, UNAM started promoting the Chinampa Refugio project, whose objective was the rescue of the amphibian. Every night, all remaining axolotls prayed for their natural habitat to be restored and in better conditions, so they could live happily ever after.
And one day, I am certain that they will return to Xochimilco, and with their big smiles, make it the most magical place in Mexico again.
References:
Lagos, A. (2025, abril 2). In search of the last wild axolotls. Wired. https://www.wired.com/story/in-search-of-thelast-wild-axolotls-mexico/ Torres, B. (2023, febrero 1). El ajolote de Xochimilco, a punto de la extinción. UNAM Global. UNAM Global - De la comunidad para la comunidad. https://unamglobal.unam.mx/global_revista/launam-acude-al-rescate-del-ajolote/